America's number one. Now into the unfolding drama in Iraq thousands of Iraqis on the -- after -- major city was taken over by militants. There are fears that -- -- al-Qaeda linked group could spark another war in the region ABC's out Mark Clark filed this report just moments ago. A mass exodus. Around half a million people have led Iraq's second largest city Mosul according United Nations as it fell into the hands and al-Qaeda offshoot. -- people have fled this man said they have left their homes and the people are lying dead in the streets. These radical militants belonged to ice this short for the Islamic State of Iraq in the -- -- In the fighting they forced Iraq's Army and police to abandon their posts. Left behind were money weapons and these American armored vehicles given to Iraq. Now in the hands of the militants and has still not enough -- army dissolved they were terrified this woman said. They fled so we left to. Mosul is the second major Iraqi city to -- ices this year in January Fallujah -- hundreds of American forces died. Also fell and is still in crisis control. Today Iraq is a -- in violence there are almost daily car bombings some 800 people died in May alone. Elections in April went smoothly but there is still no government allows -- Iraq's prime minister had declared a state of emergency and called for international help. As ice is continues its march. Fears grow that Iraq is splitting apart. Alex Marquardt ABC news Beirut.

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